Ink-well.



J. H. FGSTER.

INK WELL.

APPLlcAloN man fsm-1. 1915.

l, 170,233. Patented Feb. 1, 1916;

www

THB COLUMBIA PLANOLIRAPH co., WASIHNGTQN D 35 views.

JAMES H. FOSTER, F TUSCALOQSAFALABAMA.

INKTWELL.

To all -wwm t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. FOSTER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Tuscaloosa, in the county of Tuscaloosa and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ink-Wells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ink wells and more particularly to a closure Atherefor which includes an element to noring the purposes stated.

An embodiment of the invention is illus- .trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a conventional i form of ink well to which the improved closure is applied; Fig. 2 is a vertical sec@ tional view. thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the closure device; Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view of the "operating element of the closure device; and Fig. 5 is a detail .perspective vView ofthe closure device.y Similar characters of reference rdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several The ink well shown by way ofeXample in the accompanying drawings is one which is commonly used in connection with school desks wherein the well A, in the form of a glass receptacle, is fitted within a protecting` sleeve B, in turn tted within the desk cover. The well A includes a suitable top plate C having an opening D through which the pen is dipped.

The present invention includes a plate 1 for normally closing the opening D.- This plate is preferably arranged under the-top plate Cof the well and carries a laterally projecting arm 2 which is secured to the flower end of a vertical stem 3 journaled in the plate C. The movement of the plate l fto uncover the opening D is effected by a partial rotation of the stem 3, which carries at its projecting upper end an `operating l `element 4 by which it may be turned.

- The invention also includes means for Specification of Letters Patent.` VPatented Feb; 1, 1916,V Application filed February 4, 1915.4 Serial No. 6,149. Y. y l

positively locking or holding the platel in l i "either of its 'operative positions, and such means lpreferably includes `a U-shaped groove 5 and a pin 6 .engaging lin said groove, the said groove and pin being provided on companion, respectively, stationary and movable elements ofthe device. In the Iembodiment shown, vthe operating element 4 has an inverted cup-shape and is fitted over a boss 7 formed rigid withv the plate4 ,C

vand projecting from the upper face thereof.

The boss 7 is provided with: the U-shaped groove 5 aforesaid andthe cup-shaped knob 4'carries the aforesaidpin 6 which engages in said groove. The structure is completed by a spiral springv 8 which surrounds the stem 8 withinthe knob 4 and has one Vend secured to they boss? and the 'other end se-` cured to said knob. The spring .8 acts both with expansive yandtorsional effect. 'By' virtue of the expansive action ofthe spring 8 l 4the plate 1-is lheld against the 'under surface of the plate` C in either position of the stem 3 wherein the pin 6, alines with a vertical leg of the groove r-5.*5Byfvirtue of this action of the, spring 8 under the circum# stances stated,the plate' '1"l vwillbe securely held against" the under' faceo-f they plate C and, hence, when alin'ed'fwith fthe opening -D will effectively] close said opening;l and,

before the platewl can bemofved laterally'v in eitherdirection, c'. c., either toward or'away from the opening D, the element whichcarries thepin 6, in the embodiment shown, the knob 4, must be depressed.- In this way, accidental,'movement"of the *plate 1 about the stem /as'an axis is, prevented and said plate is positivelyheld or. lockedlin either of its operative positions. r4:The'spring S'by virtue of its torsional action tends to move lthe plate l toward or into alinementfwith the opening D and it followsxthat, assuming 4the plate l1` to be ldistant from the' opening D, the movement'ofsaid plate to appositionto close said opening is 4automatic consequent to a movement of the knob4 whereby to aline the pinc with the horizontal'portion of the groove 5. In this way, the eifecf tivefclosure fof the openingD, will notbe defeated through` carelessness inmanipulatf ing the device, as ,would perhaps some times be the c'asefif it were necessary to manually turn the stem 3 so as vto bring "the plate'l,y

intor closing position. The invention has been described in its application to ink' wells in viewf of the facu that such practical application thereof is probably its most meritorious one; but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to liquid containers other than ink wells where it is desired to prevent evaporation of the liquid and access of dust to the container during the periods when the container is not being used.

Having fully described my invention, I claim l. In combination, a liquid container having a top plate provided with an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a closure for said opening arranged below said top plate, an operating element for said closure arranged above said top plate and having movements in angular paths, said element in its movement in one path moving said closure into or out of alinement with said opening, and means for preventing a movementof said element in a direction to aline or stagger said closure and said opening except after a movement of said element in a direction at an angle to said first-named direction.

2. In combination, a liquid container having-a top plate provided with an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a closure for said opening arranged below said top plate, an operating element for said closure arranged above said top plate and having movements in angular paths, said element in its movement in one path moving said closure into or out of alinement with said opening, means' for preventing a movement of said element in a direction to aline or stagger said closure and said opening except after movement of said velement in a direction at an angle to said first-named direction, anda spring for holding said operating element in a normal position.

3. In combination, a liquid container having .a top plate provided with an opening through which access maybe had to the liquid, a closure plate below said top plate .to normally close said opening, an operating element'above said top plate having vertical and horizontal components of movement, means for preventing a horizontal movement of jsaid operating element except after a determined vertical movement thereof and connections between said operating element and said closure plate whereby the latter is actuated by a horizontal movement of said element.

Y 4. .In combination, a liquid container havinv'gaftop plate provided with an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a closure plate below said top plate to normally close said opening, an operating element above said top plate having vertical and horizontal components of movement,

l' means for preventing a horizontal movement of said operating element except after a determined vertical movement thereof, connections between said operating element and said closure plate whereby the latter is actuated by a horizontal movement of said element, and a spring resisting horizontal and vertical movements of said element in certain directions.

5. In combination, a liquid container having a top plate provided with an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a closure plate below said top plate to normally close said opening, an operating element above said top plate having vertical and horizontal pivotal components of movement, means for preventing a horizontal movement of said operating element except after a determined vertical movement thereof, connections between said element and said closure plate whereby the latter is actuated by a horizontal movement of said element, and a spring for restoring said operating element to normal position after a horizontal movement thereof.

6. In combination, a liquid container having an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a plate to normally close said opening, an operating element having vertical sliding and horizontal pivotal components of movement, means for preventing a horizontal movement of said operating element except after a determined vertical movement thereof, connections between said element and said plate whereby the latter is actuated by a horizontal movement of said element, and a spiral spring acting both expansively and torsionally for restoring said operating element to normal position after a horizontal movement thereof and for edecting a horizontal movement thereof in one direction.

7 In combination, a liquid container having an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a plate to normally close said opening, an operating element having vertical sliding and horizontal pivotal components of movement, companion relatively movable parts comprising a U-shaped groove and a pin engaging therein, one of said companion p-arts being associated with said operating element, connections between said operating element and said plate whereby the latter is actuated by a horizontal movement of said element, and a spiral spring acting both expansively and torsionally for restoring said operating element to normal position after a horizontal movement thereof and for eifecting a horizontal movement thereof in one direction.

8. In combination, a liquid container having an opening through which access may be had to the liquid, a plate to normally close said opening, a stem mounted in a wall of said container for rotary and axial sliding movement and carrying said plate at one side (thereof, an operating knob mounted upon said stem, a spiral spring surround- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing said stem and acting with expansive my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 1o y and torsional effect on said knob, a vpin nesses. carried by said knob and a boss formed on the Wall in Which said stem is mounted and JAMES H FOSTER projecting Within said knob, said boss hav- Witnesses:

ing a U-shaped groove in which said pin PERRY B, HUGHES,

engages. D. L. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington. D. C. v v 

